Nucleic acid vaccines against rickettsial diseases and methods of use

Abstract

Described are nucleic acid vaccines containing genes to protect animals or humans against rickettsial diseases. Also described are polypeptides and methods of using these polypeptides to detect antibodies to pathogens.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for detecting, in a human or an animal, antibodies having serologic reactivity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:19 comprising the steps of: 
       a) contacting a composition containing a carrier and an isolated polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:19 with a biological fluid from an animal or human; and  
       b) detecting the formation of polypeptide-antibody complexes;  
       wherein said isolated polypeptide variant is serologically reactive with antibodies, found in biological fluids of animals or humans, that bind to SEQ ID NO:19 and wherein said isolated polypeptide variant; a) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO:19; b) comprises SEQ ID NO:19 and additional amino acids; c) is a polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:19 that has amino acid deletions; or d) is a polypeptide sequence that contains amino acid substitutions within the sequence of SEQ ID NO:19.  
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said isolated polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:19 is a fragment of SEQ ID NO:19. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said isolated polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:19 comprises additional amino acids. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said isolated polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:19 is a polypeptide variant of SEQ ID NO:19 that has amino acid deletions. 
     
     
       5. A method for detecting, in a human or an animal, antibodies having serologic reactivity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:19 comprising the steps of: 
       a) contacting a composition containing a carrier and an isolated polypeptide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO:19 with a biological fluid from an animal or human; and  
       b) detecting the formation of polypeptide-antibody complexes.  
     
     
       6. A method for detecting, in a human or an animal, antibodies having serologic reactivity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:19 comprising the steps of: 
       a) contacting a composition containing a carrier and isolated polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:19 with a biological fluid from an animal or human; and  
       b) detecting the formation of polypeptide-antibody complexes;  
       wherein said polypeptide fragments are serologically recognized by antibodies, found in biological fluids of an animal or human, that bind to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:19.